Looking for a great spot in Houston to spend some time with friends?

Radio Milano/Bar Milano have you covered with their new high tea service. Guests can also enjoy drinks from a botanically inspired cocktail list, along with the Dammann Freres tea.

During my visit to Radio Milano I opted to sit out on the outdoor deck overlooking CityCentre and started with a cocktail from the high tea cocktail menu. I chose The Great Pretender, a lemon peel-infused Absolute Elyx vodka with Curacao, Madeira and prosecco. It’s a great combination of flavors – very dry with hints of citrus in every sip. It paired perfectly with the first course of Beef Carpaccio served with Pecorino Romano on a toasted crostini – simply divine.

I enjoyed the second course of Smoked Salmon with dill cream and capers, and the third course of Cucumber Tartare with lemon, mint and Greek yogurt. By then, I was ready for some hot tea. And the tea service itself is quite a treat; the Dammann Freres box is large and beautifully decorated. All the teas are available in small bottles, which you open to smell each tea. They’re individually labeled with their ingredients, so you can get a sense of what you will be drinking. I chose the Decaffeinated Ceylon—not only because it smelled good, but also because its description sounded delicious. (“A delightfully aromatic classic black tea with medium body and a lightly caramelized flavor.”) Yet, it was definitely hard to choose which one to have, as they all looked and smelled so good.

Next up on the menu was Grilled Cheese – how can you go wrong? After that was a Mini Crab Cake with Ravigote dressing and finally a Sweet Beet Macaroon. I wasn’t sure what to think about the combination of beets with goat’s milk cheese in a macaroon, but it worked. The cheese was tart, and set off the mild taste of the beets, and the color couldn’t be beat (pun intended). This was my favorite part of the tasting menu. I hope it makes a regular appearance at Radio Milano, because it was different, fun and— most importantly—tasty.

Although all of the courses are small, make sure to save room for dessert. A plate of four different dessert bites was the perfect way to end the high tea experience. I will definitely go back with friends to spend some time relaxing, sipping tea and enjoying all that Radio Milano and Bar Milano have to offer.

Offered daily from 12 – 4 pm by reservation only, the Radio Milano high tea service has three menus to choose from, and ranges from $25 to $45 per person. All photography courtesy Radio Milano.

Gabi De la Rosa lives in Houston with her husband and three children. You can usually find her at a great local restaurant or out exploring HTX with her family.